US3651328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bowling pin detector
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1971-02-11
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Granted: 1972-03-21
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Expires: 1991-02-11
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is disclosed for noting the number of pins that are standing on a bowling alley and thereby indicating how many pins have been knocked down, the apparatus including alternate lighting of adjacent zones including the pins and an array of light sensitive means to note whether respective pins are standing or are down. To prevent false indications, any indication of a standing pin in an unlighted zone may be blocked.
Inventors
- 👤 Edgar Hutto Jr
- 👤 James P Mahoney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:46
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63D; A63D5/00; A63D5/04; A63D2005/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A bowling pin detector for use in a bowling game for determining which of each of a given number of pins are standing, each of said pins corresponding individually to a discrete, separate pin location in a predetermined array; said detector comprising: light means for illuminating the heads of each and every standing pin, imaging means disposed with respect to said predetermined array for forming a separate discrete image of each illuminated standing pin head and producing an image array composed of different predetermined image locations, each image location corresponding respectively to a different one of said pin locations, an individual transducer means corresponding to each separate image location responsive to the light reflected from the respective illuminated pin heads, and respective light guide means disposed between each image location and a respective corresponding individual transducer means for concentrating the light at each of said image locations and for transmitting said concentrated light to said individual transducer means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A bowling pin detector for use in a bowling game for determining which of each of a given number of pins are standing, each of said pins corresponding individually to a discrete, separate pin location in a predetermined array; said detector comprising: light means for illuminating the heads of each and every standing pin, imaging means disposed with respect to said predetermined array for forming a separate discrete image of each illuminated standing pin head and producing an image array composed of different predetermined image locations, each image location corresponding respectively to a different one of said pin locations, an individual transducer means corresponding to each separate image location responsive to the light reflected from the respective illuminated pin heads, and respective light guide means disposed between each image location and a respective corresponding individual transducer means for concentrating the light at each of said image locations and for transmitting said concentrated light to said individual transducer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The detector of claim 1, wherein said light guide means includes a bundle of fiber optic tubes each tube corresponding to a different one of said image locations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The detector of claim 2 further including means for preventing light adjacent to and without any of said image locations from being concentrated and transmitted by one of said tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The detector of claim 3 wherein said illuminating means includes a plurality of lighting means positioned for illuminating the heads of pins in adjacent zones, each zone including at least one pin, and said light preventing means includes means to cause alternate energization of said illuminating means for illuminating alternate zones in succession.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The detector of claim 4 wherein there are at least three adjacent zones, each zone, when all pins are standing, containing at least one pin, a second of three zones being between a first and a third zone, said means to cause alternate energization illuminating the first and third zones simultaneously and while the second zone is not illuminated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-21 | 1975-09-20 | 1976-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-21 | 1979-09-20 | 1980-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-21 | 1983-09-20 | 1984-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |